Urban Jungle – Casually Create Luscious Indoor Gardens!

“However many years she lived, Mary always felt that ‘she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow’.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Overview

Urban Jungle is a relaxing and casual simulation game about decorating ordinary homes and spaces with beautiful plants and turning them into luscious green sanctuaries!

Narrative

Urban Jungle’s narrative follows Ayta Borisova through the various stages of her life and the various homes and spaces that she inhabits along the way. The story focuses on themes of family, careers, expectations, and care and is told largely through dialogue with people such as her mother, brother, and roommate at the start of each level. There are also sporadic phone calls and environmental elements that enhance the storytelling. The narrative is wholesome and relatable and enhances the experience by adding some dimension and context to the gameplay.

Gameplay

Urban Jungle offers quite simple gameplay with little to no pressure. The player visits different times in Ayta’s life and the different places she lives and visits such as her grandparent’s house, and her student apartment and must decorate them with a selection of different plants. Each plant has four separate preferences, whether they need light, if they require humidity, which plants they like to be near, and which plants they ‘hate’. Whether these preferences are met will dictate the number of points awarded for the plant’s placement. This adds some elements of puzzle and strategy to the game as the player must choose and place their plants in such a way that maximises points.

During each of the eleven chapters the player can choose a couple of plants to place first and must earn a certain number of points in order to be able to select more plants and each of these checkpoints awards a coin. Coins can then be used to purchase more exotic or rare plants rather than selecting the free ones that have lower base points. There is a plant diary that shows all of the different types of plants along with their preferences and different varieties and also logs which ones the player has collected. Reaching a set number of points will unlock the next area, and players can choose to progress or continue with the current level.

Each level of Urban Jungle also offers some optional objectives such as unpacking boxes, finding specific things, or petting the cat as well as some plant-related objectives. These add an extra element of fun but also award additional points. The game also allows players to rearrange other objects as well as interact with things such as lights and humidifiers to create a cosy, and pleasant environment.

Urban Jungle does not require players to do any management, the plants do not need watering or repotting, and will not wilt or die, they simply need to be placed appropriately. This may not be to some players’ taste but is clearly intentional and adds to the game’s easy-going and wholesome feel.

Styling

Urban Jungle boasts a charming isometric, 3D, slightly low poly, art style that uses soft but vibrant colour palettes and gently atmospheric (and purposeful) lighting. The soundtrack consists of a variety of relaxing but upbeat lofi tracks with moderate to slow tempo. The overall aesthetic is quite calming and really matches the low-pressure gameplay helping to create a laid back gaming experience.

Summary

Urban Jungle is a delightful game offered at a very reasonable price for the amount of gameplay. It will take around 5-6 hours to complete the main game but a creative mode is also available and the collectathon aspect, as well as achievements, provide reasons to continue playing. The gameplay is completely casual but still engaging and it is easy to get lost in the process of rearranging different spaces and strategically placing plants. The audio and visual elements are charming and work together well to create a relaxing aesthetic that complements and enhances the gameplay and narrative. The simple gameplay may not suit all player types, but for those who enjoy casually paced, stress-free puzzle games, or titles such as Unpacking or Tiny Glade, this is a must-play.

Looking for more cosy farming and building games? You might enjoy these reviews:
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge – A Charming Farming Sim Full of Cute Frogs! – Bear and Breakfast – A Cute and Casual B&B Management Sim – Everdream Valley – An Adorable and Relaxing Farming Sim

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